Council tax stays the same, but jobs to go

Kind-hearted care provider wins top award for 33 years of dedication

UP to 200 full-time posts are set to go as a council looks to save £93m.

Winchester-based Hampshire County Council – which oversees roads, schools, social services and libraries – will cut more senior managers as it seeks to reduce its budget by 12 per cent.

It comes after a cut in its government grant by 43 per cent.

The good news for residents of Gosport, Fareham, Havant, Winchester and East Hampshire is that the council tax this year is not set to go up.

The average Band D property will continue to pay £1,037.88 a year.

Council leader Roy Perry said: ‘If agreed, the proposals for 2014/15 would see a reduction of an estimated 200 full-time equivalent posts.

‘This includes a further 10 per cent cut in senior management on top of the 25 per cent made in previous budgets. Voluntary redundancy will continue to be used to reduce staff numbers where service reorganisations are planned, to keep the number of compulsory redundancies to the minimum.’

The council tax precept is the lowest in the south east. The budget includes a £500m capital programme aimed at supporting economic growth.